Craddick optimistic about returning for another term

Published 6:00 pm, Friday, February 1, 2008

Despite a messy showdown last year in the Texas Capitol, Republican Speaker Tom Craddick predicts he'll be elected to a fourth term as leader of the House.

"I think the races look good and we think we're in good shape to maintain a majority," Craddick said this week in an interview with The Associated Press.

The Midland Republican triumphed over a coup attempt at the end of last year's legislative session by asserting "absolute authority" and refusing to allow the parliamentary maneuver that would have resulted in a House vote on ousting him.

The 150-member chamber will vote for speaker when they reconvene in Austin next January. A handful of House veterans already have filed the necessary paperwork to run against him as speaker.

Democrats and Republicans who joined the rebellion complained that Craddick rules like a dictator and that his win-at-any-cost style often forces them to vote against the interests of their own districts.

Whether or not Craddick is elected to his fourth term as speaker will depend on how many of his supporters can win their elections this year, starting with the March 4 primaries. Several Democrats who angered their party by siding with Craddick in the contentious battle now have primary challengers using their alliance with Craddick as a campaign issue. But the Craddick establishment is hard at work trying to ensure supporters stay in office.

"The members are all out working and campaigning and I think they'll do well," he said.

Craddick, the longest serving member of the Legislature, is facing his own election challenge. Midland City Council member Bill Dingus, a Democrat, is running against Craddick to represent the region in Austin.

With Craddick's help, Republicans became the House majority party in Texas in 2003 for the first time in more than 130 years. In 2003, the newly GOP-ruled House elected Craddick as the first Republican speaker since 1871.